Well, by the time my hospital stay was over, my sister commented (she's a cop) "Be careful driving. If you get pulled over, the cop might think you are a druggie!" (Thanks a lot, sis. [:o)])

I was black and blue from my hands to my shoulders.

My veins are awful: small, thin, and they collapse and move. And with the severe swelling, it was almost impossible. For every draw, I had 2 nurses on each side of me searching for new places that weren't blown.

Well, by the time my hospital stay was over, my sister commented (she's a cop) "Be careful driving. If you get pulled over, the cop might think you are a druggie!" (Thanks a lot, sis. [:o)])

I was black and blue from my hands to my shoulders.

My veins are awful: small, thin, and they collapse and move. And with the severe swelling, it was almost impossible. For every draw, I had 2 nurses on each side of me searching for new places that weren't blown.

Oh boy Robyn, you have my sympathy. They did that to me this summer when Chloe was born and to say that my eyes bugged out of my head was somewhat of an understatement!!! They put the darn thing in and took it out a bunch of times with Lucy and I didn't remember it hurting so I wasn't too concerned when they were doing that before the spinal. My mistake!!

I guess the thing with a spinal is that it is a one shot deal, about 30 minutes of anesthesia before it wears off. Can't afford to waste a minute of that.....

Oh boy Robyn, you have my sympathy. They did that to me this summer when Chloe was born and to say that my eyes bugged out of my head was somewhat of an understatement!!! They put the darn thing in and took it out a bunch of times with Lucy and I didn't remember it hurting so I wasn't too concerned when they were doing that before the spinal. My mistake!!

I guess the thing with a spinal is that it is a one shot deal, about 30 minutes of anesthesia before it wears off. Can't afford to waste a minute of that.....

Well, this isn't exactly a blood draw story, but does relate to the horrors of swelling and lame attempts to do medical procedures.

Once my dr decided it was time to deliver, he sent me to the hospital to get prepped. The stupid nurse thought it would be nice to get the catheter in BEFORE they did the spinal. I argued with her, but apparently, this is what the anesthesiologist prefers. Keep in mind that I was swollen EVERYWHERE. Needless to say, she had a difficult time inserting the catheter and after 5 or 6 attempts decided that my idea was better. I never quite understood why they would put me through so much pain when I was supposed to be "relaxing" to keep from stroking out!

The spinal was also a nightmare. My back was so swollen that the anesthesiologist couldn't feel my vertebrae. He kept asking me to point them out! I know he was doing his best during a difficult situation, but he kept sticking me and sending this awful zinging pain down my legs. I was so scared I was going to end up with some kind of permanent damage!

Robyn, mom to 27-weeker Oliver and FT Max

Well, this isn't exactly a blood draw story, but does relate to the horrors of swelling and lame attempts to do medical procedures.

Once my dr decided it was time to deliver, he sent me to the hospital to get prepped. The stupid nurse thought it would be nice to get the catheter in BEFORE they did the spinal. I argued with her, but apparently, this is what the anesthesiologist prefers. Keep in mind that I was swollen EVERYWHERE. Needless to say, she had a difficult time inserting the catheter and after 5 or 6 attempts decided that my idea was better. I never quite understood why they would put me through so much pain when I was supposed to be "relaxing" to keep from stroking out!

The spinal was also a nightmare. My back was so swollen that the anesthesiologist couldn't feel my vertebrae. He kept asking me to point them out! I know he was doing his best during a difficult situation, but he kept sticking me and sending this awful zinging pain down my legs. I was so scared I was going to end up with some kind of permanent damage!

Ah blood draws. I don't mind blood draws so much. I always had pretty good veins...not as good with this pg though. When I was in the hospital a couple of months ago, they tried to put in an iv. They did the laitacain first. ooouuuch. Then they attempted to put the cath but missed the vein, she didnt realize it first and left the cath dangling, god that hurt. After that I refused the IV. This is why.
With my last pg, I had VERY severe HG. I was being stuck all of the time, and getting IV caths put in quite a bit. They always had such a rough time, often needing severeal people to get the job done. Then finally had to get a PICC line. I was promised it would be quick and nearly painless and would save lot of trouble.
Well it took almost two hours. Two docs and several nurses. I dont know how many sticks but my entire upper arm was blk and blue.
From that point on I dread IV caths. Blood draws I can handle, but when it comes to IV, I panic. I don't know how I will get through an epidural.

Ah blood draws. I don't mind blood draws so much. I always had pretty good veins...not as good with this pg though. When I was in the hospital a couple of months ago, they tried to put in an iv. They did the laitacain first. ooouuuch. Then they attempted to put the cath but missed the vein, she didnt realize it first and left the cath dangling, god that hurt. After that I refused the IV. This is why.
With my last pg, I had VERY severe HG. I was being stuck all of the time, and getting IV caths put in quite a bit. They always had such a rough time, often needing severeal people to get the job done. Then finally had to get a PICC line. I was promised it would be quick and nearly painless and would save lot of trouble.
Well it took almost two hours. Two docs and several nurses. I dont know how many sticks but my entire upper arm was blk and blue.
From that point on I dread IV caths. Blood draws I can handle, but when it comes to IV, I panic. I don't know how I will get through an epidural.

I can only get a blood draw from one spot. I have been stuck quite a bit, but no real horror story. I think the worst stick I got was to check my mag level. This woman came in the middle of the night and stuck my in a most uncomfortable place on my left outer arm. I had a HUGE bruise for a long time after that. I never quite understood what she was doing... but I think the only thing she said was "hi."
YUCK

Sorry about all the awful things that have happened to you all.

Suzanna

DS 3/25/95
DD 10/26/01 stillbirth
DS 12/30/02
AND ~ Peanut edd 8/6/04

I can only get a blood draw from one spot. I have been stuck quite a bit, but no real horror story. I think the worst stick I got was to check my mag level. This woman came in the middle of the night and stuck my in a most uncomfortable place on my left outer arm. I had a HUGE bruise for a long time after that. I never quite understood what she was doing... but I think the only thing she said was "hi."
YUCK

I normally have terrific veins but when I was in the hospital, no nurse on the floor would touch me. They automatically sent for an anesthesiologist (spelling?). I was putting on eight pounds a day the three days I was in the hospital before the c-section. My feet were so swollen I'd walk and my toes wouldn't touch the floor so they weren't an option. They stuck mostly to my wrists and hands. As far as the spinal block, I was pretty spacey by that time and all I remember was the anesthesiologist looking at my back and saying he was going to give me a local first because this could take a while. It took him a half hour to get it in. Not sure if that's good or bad, but it definitely sounds better than most of the other experiences. [:0]

Laura 31
DH 31
Isabella 11/25/01 - 30 wks -severe pe

I normally have terrific veins but when I was in the hospital, no nurse on the floor would touch me. They automatically sent for an anesthesiologist (spelling?). I was putting on eight pounds a day the three days I was in the hospital before the c-section. My feet were so swollen I'd walk and my toes wouldn't touch the floor so they weren't an option. They stuck mostly to my wrists and hands. As far as the spinal block, I was pretty spacey by that time and all I remember was the anesthesiologist looking at my back and saying he was going to give me a local first because this could take a while. It took him a half hour to get it in. Not sure if that's good or bad, but it definitely sounds better than most of the other experiences. [:0]

My veins are awful, ever since the hg. I was so dehydrated, I had NO veins left. I had several veins blow throughout my pg. By the time I was fully preeclamptic, I was dehydrated (yet holding in 50 lbs of fluid), and a neonatologist had to insert the iv with a butterfly needle. Oh, the memories... Well, here's my birth control for the week [:D]

My veins are awful, ever since the hg. I was so dehydrated, I had NO veins left. I had several veins blow throughout my pg. By the time I was fully preeclamptic, I was dehydrated (yet holding in 50 lbs of fluid), and a neonatologist had to insert the iv with a butterfly needle. Oh, the memories... Well, here's my birth control for the week [:D]